Gunmen Kill 21 Churchgoers In Rivers State, Nigeria

Omoku, Rivers State, Nigeria : A group of gunmen, on monday, reportedly attacked people, who visited a church in the southern Nigerian Rivers State, leaving 21 people killed.

The incident occurred near the town of Omoku where the gunmen opened an indiscriminate fire at people returning from the midnight church service, according to Dakuku Peterside, Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency. According to Peterside, the attack was allegedly a part of the conflict between rival cult groups.

Omoku is about 90 kilometres (56 miles) from the southern oil hub of Port Harcourt in the Niger Delta.

Rivers State police public relations officer Nnamdi Omoni said the number of casualties could not be confirmed at the moment, saying that they were working on the issue.

“The commissioner of police, Ahmed Zaki, has also launched a manhunt for the bandits to ensure they are arrested and prosecuted,” Omoni said.

Rivers State, a region blighted by poverty despite a wealth of oil, is home to several powerful gangs that often engage in violent turf wars.

Such gangs, known as “cults” in Nigeria, began as university confraternities decades ago before evolving into powerful armed groups that now rule the streets of the destitute region.

No terror group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The situation in Nigeria remains unstable over activities of the militants Islamist group, which pledged allegiance to Islamic State.